Mantha doesn't recall who this mystery man was, but it's no mystery why this 50-goal scorer from Val-d'Or of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was high on Detroit's list.

He is a sniper with a tremendously accurate shot and a knack for finding open ice. He has a 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame which should fill out well by the time he dons a Red Wings jersey in a few years.

"He's one of those guys that seems to find a way to hit the net, find a way to sneak to the goalies,'' Red Wings director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell said. "His accuracy is excellent. And with his size to go along with those things, it was a real intriguing package for us.''

Said Mantha of the shot that enabled him to lead the QMJHL in goals: "It's not necessarily the force that you put, but more of the precision.''

So deep was this draft that the Red Wings were able to trade down two spots to No. 20, acquiring a second-round pick from San Jose (No. 58 overall), and still get one of the players they targeted.

"We had it narrowed down to three names, would have been ecstatic with any of them,'' McDonnell said. "As soon as we got to that point we knew we were going to get one of them, (trading down) was a no-brainer. And then we ended up getting the guy we really wanted.

"Obviously, it's going to be a few years from now, but we're real excited to get him where we picked him.''

He'll spend another year at the junior level before turning pro and joining the Grand Rapids Griffins. The supremely confident Mantha is hoping to fast-track it to the NHL.

"My approach is really to make the big team next year, if not, in the next two years,'' Mantha said. "I will show them everything that I can to be there without having to go to the minors.

"I'll show everyone, every team, and the Red Wings, that they did not take the wrong guy.''

That kind of determination and self-confidence is good, McDonnell said.

"They might not say it, but most kids think that,'' McDonnell said. "They think, 'I've got a real chance to make an NHL team,' and that should be their goal. They have to come in with lofty expectations. Deep down they probably know it's going to be tough, but it's good to say that.''

Mantha, like most draft picks, needs to bulk up.

"Like all these kids that are (drafted) today, there's not many that are real men yet,'' McDonnell said. "He's on the skinny side right now, but we'll see his work ethic. He'll get bigger eventually.''

The Montreal native grew up a Canadiens fans and has never been to Detroit, but has a Red Wings connection. Mantha's grandfather is four-time Stanley Cup champion Andre Pronovost, who played 556 games for Montreal, Boston, Detroit and Minnesota between 1956-57 and 1967-68.

"My father and my grandfather were always on the ice with me when I was younger,'' Mantha said. "They helped me out the whole way.''

Said McDonnell: "We didn't even know that until we interviewed him at the Combine. It was a bit of a surprise to hear that, but it was neat.''

Mantha hopes to play with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg one day.

"They're two great players. I love both of their styles of play,'' Mantha said. "It will be an honor just to be around them and I'm pretty sure I'm going to learn by (watching) them.''